28 October 1998

UQ graduate wins Rhodes Scholarship

Queensland's 1999 Rhodes Scholar hopes she can inspire regional Australians with her win.

Twenty-two year-old University of Queensland bachelor of applied science (rural technology) honours graduate Tanya Plant is believed to be the first Gatton College Rhodes Scholar.

Ms Plant, whose family has a beef and grain property Samarai near Toowoomba, broke a recent tradition of engineering or law graduates winning Rhodes scholarships to claim the prestigious prize. She will take up a master of philosophy in economics degree at Oxford University in October 1999.

"A lot of rural students probably would not dare to apply," she said.

"My advice to them is it doesn't matter where you're from. Never be afraid. Have a go. You might be surprised at what you can achieve."

A former dux of Oakey High School, Ms Plant is executive officer of the South-East Graziers Association, a section of the United Graziers Association based in Toowoomba.

She recently joined the Association, after working as a technical officer at Bundaberg Molasses in Oakey since her graduation from the University of Queensland with first class honours in 1996. Forty percent of students in her course were women.

Ms Plant is a member of the Australian Poll Hereford Society, and last year won a trip to the U.S. and Canada as Ambassador for the Beef Industry.

She started the Young Cattleman's Union in 1996, and is a previous state winner of a leukemia fundraising competition. In 1996 she was Miss South Queensland Country in the Miss Australia competition.

Ms Plant said many rural producers had suffered a tough time in the past few years and she hoped to convince young people that there was a future in the industry. She is interested in agri-politics and aims to help ensure the return of more profitable times for rural communities.

"I want to work towards seeing more profit for rural people and solving their economic problems," Ms Plant said.

Ms Plant said she was not a "study freak."

"You're not even close," she said. "I do normal things - I muster cattle, love ballet, going to the movies and going out with friends."

Rhodes Scholarships, founded in 1902 under the will of the late Cecil John Rhodes, are tenable at Oxford University for an initial two years, with the possibility of a third. Candidates must be between 19 and 25 years old and citizens of the country from which they are selected.

Scholarships are assigned annually in Australia, Canada, India, Jamaica, New Zealand, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the United States, Germany, British Caribbean, Malaysia, Singapore, Pakistan, Kenya and Hong Kong.

Australia receives nine - one for each state and three for Australia-at-large.

Since the scheme began, about 500 Rhodes Scholars have been selected. Women became eligible in 1972.

The first Rhodes Scholarship awarded in Queensland was won in 1904 by Arthur Stanley Roe, five years before an Act of Parliament was passed to set up the University of Queensland.

The qualities set out by the late Cecil Rhodes for those seeking Rhodes Scholarships include academic and intellectual excellence, integrity of character, respect for fellow beings and a capacity for leadership. Sporting prowess is an advantage, but not a necessity.

Media contact: Ms Plant telephone 0746 393338